I have a dream of visiting a 500-year old church and listening to a 500-year old piece of music played on a 500-year old organ. Where might I achieve this dream--or something close to it?
Posted by
la rioja
640 posts
In Casalarreina, La Rioja, they have the "Festival de música antigua."
The concerts are in the Monastery of Santa Maria de la Piedad, built between the years 1514 and 1524. The age of the music varies a bit, but you get pieces from the 13th century forward.
Sometimes they have antique instruments, or modern replicas.
As Meatloaf sang, two out of three ain't bad
Here is last year's program.
Here is the monastery. The monastery is worth the visit. The nuns also bake and you can get some different kinds of muffins and coconut macaroons.
Posted by
Uppsala, Sweden
7289 posts
Does it have to be exactly 500 years? Old churches are not a problem, they are easy to find. Finding one with an old organ however might be harder. There are a few of them, although they have often been rebuilt and renovated during the years. So the question if they can be considered a 500 year old organ might lead you to the Ship of Theseus. And while there are old pieces of music preserved that can be played on an organ, they are also not too common. Composers didn't really start writing music for the organ until the renaissance, and in my very personal opinion organ music peaked during the baroque.
Posted by
Schwerin
3538 posts
Have a look at Rysum church and organ in Northern Germany.
Posted by
Virginia
956 posts
the organ at Valère Basilica, Sion, Switzerland is supposedly one of the oldest still working, built around the 1430s.
Posted by
IJzendijke, The Netherlands
2169 posts
Edited: The oldest still working organ in the Netherlands is from 1511, to find in the Grote (of) Sint-Laurenskerk (finished in 1518) in Alkmaar north of Amsterdam. No idea about the music, for this you can contact the local TI: https://www.visitalkmaar.com/en/contact
Not exactly 500 years, but comes pretty close to it :).
Posted by
Frankfurt, Germany
9336 posts
You might want to try St. Valentines in Kiedrich, which is right outside of Eltville on the Rhein.
Built in the 1400s, their organ dates back to around 1500 and is the oldest one in Hessen. Not sure what music they are playing there, but perhaps write the church and ask?
https://kiedrich.bistumlimburg.de/beitrag/kirche-st-valentinus-und-dionysius/
If you are in this area, stop by Eberbach Monastery as well as Eltville. All 3 of these towns/places are important and high points of interest on the Rhein, in my opinion.
Posted by
OP
2 posts
Ach, ja! St. Valentine's checks another box I hadn't even mentioned: our immigrant ancestor, Valentine Metzler 1726-1783, was born not far from there in Windesheim! I'm planning a trip to Windesheim, anyway. Vielen danke.
Posted by
Chicago
1342 posts
If you can manage a slightly younger organ: Hillrod, Denmark - the Frederiksborg Castle Museum has recital demonstrations of their 1616 organ - I believe daily. Also some evening concerts.
I was there in spring 2023 traveling with a musician - an organist. Visitors are encouraged to stand around the organ and move around to see the bellows in action. The organist performer plays music of the period (no Bach!) and talks about the instrument and the composers. As I remember, the demo was about 30 minutes and we chatted (in English) with the performer for 15 minutes or so following the recital demo.
https://www.greifenberger-institut.de/en/wissenswertes/orgel/norddt/frederiksborg_text.php
https://dnm.dk/en/frederiksborg-castle/
Frederiksborg Castle is easily reached from Copenhagen - popular history museum well worth a visit. The organ demo is icing on the cake!